While we know that hearing constitutes 20% of our humanly senses, gifted to the most of us by virtue of being born, we seldom realize its importance. We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. They say that Lenin could listen so intently that he often exhausted the speaker. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. You’ll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart. … It whispers, so listen carefully. The older I grow the more I listen to people who don’t talk much. It’s a pity for the husband whose wife says he never listens to her. At least I think that’s what he said and so every day I practice listening to what isn’t being said.
On the other hand, of those who say nothing, few are silent. To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks. Talking is like playing on the harp; there is as much in laying the hands on the strings to stop their vibration as in twanging them to bring out their music. The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. Remember that even a fish wouldn’t get into trouble if he kept his mouth shut. To be able to ask a question clearly is two-thirds of the way to getting it answered. The difference between a smart man and a wise man is that a smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows whether or not to say it. Remember that no man would listen to you talk if he didn’t know it was his turn next.
